Impatiens plant named ‘Balolepeac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balolepeac’ , characterized by its double-type coral-colored flowers with lighter coral-colored edges, dark green-colored foliage, and compact, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balolepeac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balolepeac’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during February 2003. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of new compact Impatiens cultivars with fully double-typeflowers, attractive flower and foliage coloration, and a freelybranching, compact growth habit.

The new cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietaryImpatiens walleriana breeding selection 3596-3-2, not patented,characterized by its white-colored flowers with coral-colored venation,medium green-colored foliage, and medium vigorous growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollinationduring October 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceOctober 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics,as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balolepeac’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Fully double-type coral-colored flowers with lighter        coral-colored edges;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Compact, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily inflower color, foliage color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is‘Balfieplos’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,637. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balfieplos’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of        ‘Balfieplos’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more floriferous than plants        of ‘Balfieplos’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balolepeac’. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balolepeac’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a partially open flower on theleft and a fully open flower on the right of ‘Balolepeac’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 6, 2005 between 3:00p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepolycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill.in 10 cm pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 75° F. (18° C.to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 62° F. (13° C. to17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000 to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balolepeac.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection 3596-3-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection 3596-3-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact, upright.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 11.6 cm. Width: Approximately 29.4 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 5            branches per plant.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 11.8 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 7.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            145B. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately            1.8 cm.        -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 11.            Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.            Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and blade is at            a right angle or obtuse angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:            Crenate, ciliate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of leaf at center of stem:            Approximately 3.2 cm. Width of leaf at center of stem:            Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest            to 139A with venation of 144A. Color of lower surface of            mature foliage: Closest to 148B with venation of 146C.            Petiole length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Petiole diameter:            Approximately 2.4 mm. Petiole texture: Glabrous. Petiole            color: 145C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balolepeac’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 11 weeks from sticking            of unrooted cutting.        -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 6 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Double. Quantity per plant: Approximately 21.            Fragrance: None. Borne: Above foliage.        -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oval. Quantity showing color            at 6 weeks: Approximately 34. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color: 10C with 49A at petal            margins.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Diameter: Approximately            4.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 29. Shape: Obovate. Aspect:            Slightly cupped. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Length            of outermost petal: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width of outermost            petal: Approximately 2.0 cm. Length of innermost petal:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of innermost petal:            Approximately 8.6 mm. Color of upper surface of fully open            petals: 49A with a dusting of lighter than 49A at margins            and small specks of 55A at base. Color of lower surface of            fully open petals: N155B.        -   Spur.—Quantity: One primary and 3 to 4 vestigial per flower.            Length of primary spur: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter of            primary spur at tip: Approximately 0.8 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 2.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145B with            tip of 187A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.4 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 3 with several            rudimentary sepals within the body of the flower. Apex:            Acuminate. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous.            Shape of lateral sepal: Lanceolate. Length of lateral sepal:            Approximately 3.2 mm. Width of lateral sepal: Approximately            1.8 mm. Color of lateral sepal: 144C. Shape of lower sepal:            Ovate. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of            lower sepal: Approximately 7.0 mm. Color of lower sepal:            154D.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balolepeac’,substantially as herein shown and described.